Experts on Victoria supervised consumption site announcement

The following University of Victoria experts are available to media to discuss the Vancouver Island Health Authority’s expected announcement today of the proposed locations of the supervised consumption sites and public engagement processes:

Bruce Wallace (UVic’s Centre for Addictions Research/School of Social Work) is an expert in researching and addressing solutions related to health inequities facing the most vulnerable citizens within society. For more than 20 years, Wallace worked with non-profit agencies, often collaborating with consumer-led agencies focused on homelessness, health, mental health and substance use. He can discuss how the provincial overdose crisis is impacting Victoria and how we need to respond. Wallace is available Nov. 15 to media on this subject until 6 p.m. (Office: 250-721-6275 or barclay@uvic.ca)  

Bernie Pauly (UVic’s Centre for Addictions Research/School of Nursing) is an expert in reducing health inequities associated with substance use, poverty and homelessness. She can address the BC public health emergency concerning drug-related overdoses and deaths and the need for immediate interventions and implementation of province-wide harm reduction strategies. She can also speak to current evidence about supervised consumption sites, public engagement processes and the importance of such sites as part of a comprehensive response to the overdose emergency. (Office: 250-472-5915 or bpauly@uvic.ca)